Volume 3, Issue 1 February 2015 San Antonio Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Renowned Students Learn about Tuskegee Airmen Special points of interest: Spreading the Tuskegee Airmen Experience to Youth Veterans Day includes DOTAs and Buffalo Soldiers The San Antonio Independent School District invited SACTAI to a Back-To-School event August 14, 2014 at the Claude Black Community Center, San Antonio. There over 600 students were able to get vaccines and school registrations, access educational resources, and learn about some special educational groups in town. SACTAI took this opportunity to publicize our Speakers Bureau which is available to schools throughout the year to inform students and faculty of what we're about and what we do. SACTAI & MPAC Collaborate Here SACTAI Youth Chair Grady Robinson gets Sparky up to speed on the Tuskegee Airmen on a break between large groups of children wanting to know what resources we have. Inside this issue: Veterans Day 2 DOTAs at the 99th 4 Bynum Surprise 4 99th Commanders 5 DOTAs at UTSA 6 Mr. Roddray Walker, SACTAI Public Relations Officer, gives more detail about the Tuskegee Airmen display, the artifacts, and the presentation to one of the choir member parents. The Music and Performing Arts Conference (MPAC) conducted a regional Gospel Workshop at San Antonio s True Vision Church October 4, 2014, intended to expose youth choirs and praise dance groups from across Texas to current trends and to encourage them to follow their dreams. The 2-day program included worship services and concerts for over 200 youth. SACTAI was invited to give a short talk about the values and successes of the Tuskegee Airmen during one of the programs. The SACTAI historical expo display tells the Tuskegee Experience story.
Volume 3, Issue 1 Veteran s Day 2014 SACTAI joins Buffalo Soldiers to Honor Veterans DOTAs Derricotte (with spouse Jean), Johnson, and Ellis get situated before the ceremony. DOTAs James Bynum, Eugene Derricotte, Granville Coggs, Thomas Ellis, Theodore Johnson and Chapter members were on hand at San Antonio s National Cemetery to honor veterans. The program was facilitated by the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers and joined by both DOTAs and Chapter Members. The ceremony included a Buffalo Soldier Honor Guard, the national anthem, speeches by local officials, and a keynote speech by Brig. Gen. Robert D. LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio Commander. DOTAs Derricotte, Johnson, Ellis and Bynum visit attendees. DOTAs Johnson, Coggs, and Ellis are escorted by new member, Ed Jones Page 2 Following the cemetery ceremony, Chapter members treated DOTAs at our Vet Day Lunch with the DOTAs at a nearby restaurant.
Volume 3, Issue 1 Veteran s Day 2014 Pictured above, SACTAI President Rick Sinkfield recognized the many parent veterans just as a cold front moved thru. Pictured below are SACTAI members Grady Robinson, Youth Chair, Rick Sinkfield along with school students, faculty and administrators. Howsman Elementary School Administrators continued their recognition of veterans from the community. All veterans got the royal treatment: breakfast, hot coffee, and special seating at the outdoor ceremony. The Ceremony included a flag raising, demonstrations from students, and introductions by all the veterans. SACTAI President Rick Sinkfield was guest speaker. He emphasized the role of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and recognized the sacrifices of veterans from then until now. The stories told about the Tuskegee Airmen and those veterans in the audience that day are American Stories he said. Even though the weather turned brisk, the ceremony continued. The students presented each vet with a flower and a personal letter thanking each vet for their service. Page 3
Renowned DOTA Dr. Coggs Visits the 99th, Congratulates Volunteers Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Johnson, Commander of the 99th Flying Training Squadron invited DOTA Dr. Coggs and SACTAI President [and 99th FTS Honorary Commander] Rick Sinkfield to present certificates of recognition to AF members that supported the 2014 Central Region Youth Seminar June 27, 2014. The venue was a Commander s Call October 8, 2014 in the 99th Heritage Auditorium on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Certificates were awarded to tower controllers, simulator instructors, tour guides, and 99th FTS squadron administrators and commanders. Captain Christine Wagner volunteers as Youth Seminar Tour Coordinator. She also conducted a tour of the 99th Flying Training Squadron Heritage Hallway. She was one of several volunteers that helped with tours at Randolph Air Force Base. Photo above shows DOTA Dr. Coggs with his publicist taking note of his reserved parking space at the 99th.FTS and Lt Col Oliver Johnson, 99th FTS on the ramp beside the T-1 Red-Tail Jayhawk. Page 4 DOTA Dr. Coggs recounted his WWII experience, took a walking tour of the 99th Heritage Hallway, posed next to the red-tail T-1 aircraft, and all along told personal Tuskegee Airmen stories. The tour concluded with a cool beverage.
Volume 3, Issue 1 Commanders Call at the 99th Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Johnson, Commander of the 99th Flying Training Squadron invited DOTA Dr. Derricotte and other SACTAI members to present certificates of recognition to AF members. The Commanders Call occurred January 20, 2015 at the 99th FTS Commander s Call in the 99th Heritage Auditorium on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Awards and decorations were presented to 99th FTS squadron members with Dr. Derricotte as part of the ceremony. Dr. Derricotte was invited to tell his personal story with the Tuskegee Airmen and tour the Heritage Hall and sign the Panther Emblem. Page 5
Renowned DOTA Coggs Visits Local Elementary School Administrators at Howsman Elementary School, Northside Independent School District in North San Antonio, TX invited SACTAI to give a history lesson on the Tuskegee Airmen. The team screened the Double-V film, delivered the new youth-oriented TAI slide presentation, tested their understanding and handed out reminders of TA Values. Afterwards, the children were very engaged and excited to see DOTA Coggs as he greeted each one of the 60 students. The Traveling SACTAI Speakers Team; this time featuring [front] DOTA Dr. Coggs, Dr. Carolin Sinkfield (SACTAI Interim Secretary), [standing] Mr. Grady Robinson (SACTAI Youth Chair), Mr. Roddray Walker (SACTAI Public Relations), and Rick Sinkfield, (SACTAI President) DOTA Bynum gets a BIG Surprise DOTA James Bynum gets a shock as he entered his favorite restaurant. Thinking he was to meet his wife for a quiet dinner, he was surprised by fifty of his closest family and friends on the occasion of his 94th birthday January 10th, 2015! Page 6 DOTA Dr. Coggs made it a point to shake each child s hand after they viewed the SACTAI presentation. He also handed out TAI flyers to remind them of the day.
Volume 3, Issue 1 DOTA Dr. Derricotte relates his personal Tuskegee Experiences Dr. Derricotte was interviewed by ESPN's Hannah Storm on Veteran s Day 2014 at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas. Army Colonel Don Gajewski is the medical director of the Center and was on hand to welcome the guests. The threefold mission of the Center is to provide rehabilitation for casualties who have sustained amputation, burns, or functional limb loss, to provide education to DoD and Department of Veteran's Affairs professionals on cutting edge rehabilitation modalities, and to promote research in the fields of Orthopaedics, prosthetics and physical/occupational rehabilitation. The staff and equipment for the building was selected to provide the full spectrum of amputee rehabilitation as well as the advanced outpatient rehabilitation for burn victims and limb salvage patients with residual functional loss. Page 7 DOTA Dr. Derricotte visits with Ms Storm before the interview. Dr. Derricotte also greeted a number of wounded warriors some of whom received awards for their service.
San Antonio Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Renowned is a publication of the San Antonio Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. To be renowned for all we do...and respected for how well we do it....our goals -Perpetuate achievements of the Tuskegee men and women -Motivate minority youth to achievement and leadership...our objectives -Research and document Tuskegee Airmen achievements -Motivate youth to seek aviation and aerospace careers -Inspire local youth to outstanding achievement and leadership Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/sactai or at www.sactai.com SACTAI DOTAs Participate in a Panel for UTSA Students Dr. Dorinda Rolle, professor of African-American History at the College of Education and Human Development, University of Texas at San Antonio, invited Chapter members and DOTAs to speak December 8, 2014 to her students about the Tuskegee Airmen. She said these students need a dose of reality...they need to know the real story of discrimination and its effect on society. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Central Region President, Marv Abrams screened the Lucus Film documentary Double Victory followed by an historical slide presentation covering events from the dawn of aviation, to the Tuskegee Experience, to the present day. Dr. Rolle s students asked many questions about the DOTAs feelings toward discrimination and the training they received. Dr. Rolle is surrounded by Chapter Members, Students, and DOTAs Eugene Derricotte and James Bynum in front. (Row 2:) Carol Alexander, SACTAI Vice President; Jean Derricotte, DOTA Spouse, Dorothy Bynum, DOTA Spouse; Students 1-3. (Back row) Student 4, Marv Abrams, Central Region President; Dr. Rolle; Rick Sinkfield, SACTAI President. DOTAs Bynum and Derricotte gave their personal stories about the Tuskegee Experience to multiple classes and other interested students.